Stepping up into the $8,500 Open II Trot at Buffalo Raceway, J Semper Fi pulled off a 19-1 shocker over the sloppy track on Friday night

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J Semper Fi leaving from Post 1 in the field of eight and driven by Jim McNeight, settled in second as eventual second place finisher Fifty Two Finn (Mike Baumeister) cut all the fractions, :31, 1:03, and 1:35.1. As the field hit the top of the stretch, J Semper Fi swung inside to the passing lane and won for the first time this season by one and a quarter lengths in 2:06.2. Mainspring (Shawn Gray) came in third.

The longest shot on the board returned $41.60 to his backers. Sue Stockwell trains the seven-year-old Steve One gelding for owner-breeder Fred Polk of Zanesville, Ohio. The $4,250 share of the winning purse put J Semper Fi’s season bankroll at $5,225 and lifetime earnings at $45,144.

Racing will resume on Saturday February 25, with first post scheduled for 6:40 p.m. Eastern Time. The $29,500 Niatross Knockout Series final will go in Race 10 with No. 7 Grampa Gus (Shawn Gray) installed as the 5-2 favourite.

(With files from Buffalo Raceway)